Pressure-regulator.



J. P. METZGEH.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1913.

1, 173,834. Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

El- Q WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS J 1. P. METZGER,

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.9. i913.

Patented Feb. 29,1916. 3 SHEETS SHEET 2- I W/TNE88E8 P. METZGER. PRESSURE REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1913.

1,173,834. Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

i 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R1 W P fl L W I W I v f E I '51 7 3 1? T flz WITNESSES L INVENTOI? ATTORNEYS JULES 1. METZGER, F CARLSTADT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE LESLIE COMPANY, OF LYNDHURST, NEW'J'ERSEY, ACORCPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PRESSURE-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Feb. 29, rate.

Application filed October 9, 1913. Serial No. 794,258.

' a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Carlstadt, in the'county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Pressure-Regulator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to pressure regulators in which a main or regulating valve is controlled by a piston governed by controlling means controlled by low ressure from the outlet side of the regu ator to admit high pressure from the inlet side of the regulator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pressure regulator arranged to insure proper andeasy Working of the parts under all conditions, to render the regulator exceedingly sensi tive to fluctuations in the ressure of the fluid, and to prevent the wor 'ng parts from being thrown out of alinement, thus reducing leakage to a minimum.

In order to accomplish the desired result use is made of a casing having an inlet, an

outlet, and a partition intermediate the said inlet and the said outlet, the partition having a valve seat, a springpressed regulating valve controlling the said valve seat, a cylinder in the upper portioii of the said casing and in communication at its lower end with the said outlet, a piston in the said cylinder and connected with the regulating valve, a high pressure expansion chamber located above the said cylinder and having its bottom connected by a downwardly-extending port with the said inlet to allow fluid pressure to pass from the said inlet into an expansion chamher to expand therein and to drain the said expansion chamber of the Water of condensation, the roof of the said expansion chamher being provided with a valve seat, a controllin valve controlling the said valve seat 0 the high pressure chamber, ports connecting the said valve seat with the upper end of the said cylinder, a diaphragm chamber above the said high pressure expansion chamber and connected with the.

said outlet, a diaphragmcontrolling the said controlling valve, and a pressure device bearing on the said dia hragm. Use is also made of external vertically-disposed ribsarranged on the upper part of the casing and internal vertically-disposed ribsexof the pressure regulator; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form of the same; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;; Fig. 6 is a cross section of a modified form of the support for the spring of the controlling valve; andFig. 7 is .a similar View of another modified form of the spring support for the controlling valve.

The casing Act the pressure regulator is" provided with a cap B having a flange B resting on a flange A of the said casing, the flanges being fastened together by suitable bolts C. The casing A is provided with an inlet D connected with a source of fluid pressure supply, and the casing is fur- .ther provided with an outlet E for conduct ing A. A drain pipe J leads from the bottom cap I to carry off the water of condensation to a suitable place of discharge. The seat H also forms a guide for the depending valve stem G to 'guidethe valve G in its opening and closing movements.

The valve G is provided with an up- I wardly-extending stem Gr screwed or otherwise secured tothe stem K or a piston K mounted to reciprocate in a cylinder L formed in the upper portion of the casing A and separated from the outlet E by a horizontal partition N having openings or ports N to connect the lower end of the with a recess B in register with the upper quently dueto condensation, takinlgl end of the cylinder L.

In pressure regulators of the class described it sometimes happens that the piston becomes disengaged from the main valve through various causes, and the piston is liable. to abut against the top cap B, and the bottom of the piston is liable to be seated on the partition or bridge N. A sudden starting or shutting off of the steam might produce such results. When this is the case, the exposed surface of the piston to the steam is reduced and the downward flow of the steam is diminished accordingly while a contrary efieet takes place with the same condition and with the ordinary form of piston at the bottom; in other words, the equilibrium of the device in relation to the main valve G by the difference 05- predetermined exposed area is disturbed. To overcome this defect the following arrangement is made: The cap B is provided at the recess B with an annular flange or shoulder B fitting into the upper end of the cylinder L. In order to prevent the piston K from bein flatly seated on the partition N use is ma e of a depending rim K having a sharp bottomedge adapted to be seated on the-top of the partition N so as to allow the pressure from the outlet E to act on the full area of theunder side of the piston K. The top of the iston K is rovided with pointed lu s K a apted to a ut against the under si e of the shoulder B to allow the high pressure in the upper end of the cylinder L and. the recess B to act on the full area of the. top of the iston-K.

The recess 2 is connected by ports 0 (see Fig. 2) with a chamber P arranged in' the cap B and provided at the under side with a valve seat P opening into an expansion chamber Q formed in the cap B above the recess B The valve seat P is normally screwing on the nipple B.

closed by a controlling valve R extendin within the expansion chamber Q an pressed to its seat by a spring'S seated on top of a screw plug T screwing in the bottom of the expansion chamber Q.

Defective pressure regulation is freplace in the chamber Q and obstructin t e pro or working. of the controlling va ve R. pressure re later works fairly well 'aslon' as the con 'tions are normal and the fluid namely, steam,-is absolutely .drybut whenever moist steam through various conditions asses into the Y which occur in ractlce chamber Q then 1; e contro ling valve R is liable. to flutter and its sensitivenessis impaired and faulty regulation results. In order to overcomethis the following arrangement ismade; The expansion chamber condensation from. interfering downwardly and connected at its lower end with a port Q opening into the inlet D to allow high pressure fluid to pass from the said inlet into the expansion chamber Q.

The side walls of the entrance Q are diverging from the port Q? to merge with the side wall of the expansion chamber Q, which is preferably made circular, as plainly indicated in Fig. 3, and which is of sufiicient size to allow a gradual expansion of the steam as the same passes by way of the port Q is provided with an entrance Q sloping Q and the gradually enlarging entrance Q into the expansion chamber Q. It will be noticed that by the arrangement described any water of condensationthat may form in the expansion chamber Q, is readily drained out of the same by thesloping entrance Q and the port Q to prevent such water of with the proper workingof the controlling valve R. It will further be noticed that by this arrangement dry steam is had in the chamber Q and this drysteam only passes into the upper end of the cylinder L by way of the valve seat P and ports 0 wheneverthe controllin valve B is opened, as hereinafter more tully explained. It will further be noticed that by providing a large expansion chamber a large volume of dry steam is acand the steam passes quietly through the open valve seat thus avoiding injury to the seat by erosion.

The upwardly-extending stem R of the controlling valve R isengaged at its upper end by a diaphragm U held in a diaphragm chamber .U arranged in the top of the cap B and connected by a port or opening U with the outlet E. The diaphragm U is fastened in position by a nipple B and the top of the diaphragm is ressed on by a button V on which rests t e lower end of a spring V engaged at its top by a button V resting on the diap ragm' U downward w ereby the controlling valve R is opened to allow high pressure to pass by way of the inlet D, port Qfientrance Q' chamber Q, valveseat P, chamber P and ports I into the recess B and into the upper end of the cylinder L to force the piston K downward therein'so that the main or regulating valve Gis ripened against the tension of its spring H. luid pressure can now pass from the inlet D by. way of the valve seat F into the outlet-E and as soon the under side of a cap B By screwing reduced ress'ure then the sprin Y forces diaphragm U is returned to former position to allow the valve R to close by the action of its spring S whereby the fluid pressure is cut off from the upper end of the cylinder L and consequently the pressure passing into the lower end of the cylinder L by way of the ports N causes a return of the piston K and the valve G aided by the spring H.

It is understood that When'the controlling valve R closes, the steam above the piston K has free access by way of the ports 0 to the chamber P from which the steam can pass by way of leakage along the loose fitting stem B into the diaphragm chamber U at the outlet side of the valve. It will also be noticed that part of the steam trapped in the upper end of the cylinder L condenses and leaks past the piston K into the lower part of the said cylinder. Thus the pressure in the upper end of the cylinmoves upward and thereby moves the valve G to its seat F aided by the spring H.

An emergency pipe IV is connected with one of the ports O and this pipe N is connected with a source of pressure supply to allow of passing high pressure directly into the upper end of the cylinder L to force the piston K downward therein with a view to open the valve G in case the controlling valve It fails to operate for one reason or another. The emergency supply pipe W can be attached to either side of the cap B, the opposite port 0 being closed by a screw plug W, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In the use of pressure regulators of the type referred to it is of importance that the casing including the cylinder and bottom cap, piston, main valve and cont-rolling valve are in true axial alinement to insure proper working of the moving parts and to render the regulator exceedingly sensitive to the fluctuations of the pressure of the fluid passing through the regulator. Strains in the line of pipe to which the v pressure regulator is attached tend to disthe alinement causes undue friction of the tort or warp-the casing so that the working" parts are thrown out of axial alinement. In large pressure regulators the strains referred to are considerable and the moving parts are heavy and the slightest defect in working parts thus preventing the latter from working freely. In order to overcome these defects the following arrangement is made: The casing A is reinforced by the use of vertically-disposed ribs A arranged on the outside of the casing and-extending from the under sideof the flange A to a point approximately opposite the partition F. The ribs A are arranged radially relative to the common axis of the piston K and the valve G. Similar ribs A are arranged interiorly of the casing A and extend between the partitions N and F, as

. tition F.

will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The lower portion of the casing A is reinforced by similar ribs A depending from the under side of the par- By the arrangement described the casing is not liable to be warped and a true fitting of the valve G on the valve seat F is maintained to insure easy working of 1 the parts and to render the regulator exceedingly sensitive to fluctuations in pressure.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 4: and 5, the lower end of the entrance Q of the expansion chamber Q is connected by two branch ports Q with the ports Q leading into the inlet 1). By this arrangement the steam begins to expand as soon as it reaches the upper end of the port Q and in case one of the branch ports Q should become clogged up the rest will still be in service for supplying dry steam to the expansion chamber Q.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6, the support for the spring S of the controlling valve R is in the form of a screw rod T which screws in a screw plug T screwing in the bottom of the-expansion chamber Q. It willbe noticed that the screw plug T shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as well as the screw plug T shown in Fig. 6 extends with its upper end a distance above the bottom of the expansion chamber Q so as to prevent lodgment of water of condensation in the said chamber. By the use of the screw rod T the tension of the spring S may be conveniently regulated, it being understood that access to the screw rod T is had at the time the cap B is removed from the easing A.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 7 the spring S of the controlling valve B is seated in a seat T arranged in the top of a support T provided in its lower end with a central cone-shapedrecess engaging a conical point T formed on the upper end of a screw rod T screwing in a screw plug T screwed into the bottom of the expansion chamber Q. The support T besidesforming a seat for the spring S also forms a guide for the depending stem R of the controlling valve B. By adjusting the screw rod T the tension of the spring S may be increased or diminished. After the spring S has been set the screw rod T is locked in place by a jam nut T abutting against the under side of the screw plug T.

It is understood that close regulation in a regulator as described depends in a great measure upon the sensitiveness of its flexible parts especially the spring S and diaphragm U for the controlling valve It, and if the ratio of reduction is great a greater degree of sensitiveness between theflexible diaphragm and the controlling valve is of great advantage. By freeing the spring S of deleterious influences of moist steam and water of condensation and by allowing setting of the spring S tothe desired tension it is possible to use an exceedingly thin, sensitive diaphragm U and consequently the controlling valve is rendered very sensltive in its opening and closing movements.

In the operation of the pressure regulator the controlling valve R opens to allow fluid pressure from the inlet D to pass into the upper end of the cylinder N to force the piston K downward so that the main valve G opens to allow the fluid pressure to pass by way of the inlet D and valve seat F to the outlet E, and the valve G remains open until the outlet pressure equals the desired gage pressure. Should the demand for fluid pressure on the outlet E increase then the tendency would be to diminish the pressure on the outlet and under the diaphragm, but when this takes place the controlling valve R opens correspondingly more fully whereby more fluid pressure is admitted to the upper end of the cylinder L to force the iston K farther down so that the valve is opened more fully to supply the demand for more fluid pressure at the outlet E. Should the outlet delivery be stopped suddenly the reverse action takes place, that is, the pressure under the diaphragm U forces the latter up to allow the s ring S to close the controlling valve R an thus shut ofi' the fluid pressure for the upper end of the cylinder L. The pressure on the underside of the piston ,K moves the latter upward to close the valve G.

From the foregoing it will be seen that no matter what the demand for fluid pressure is at the outlet E, the regulator satisfies such demand. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A pressure regulator of the class described, comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a spring pressed regulating valve between the inlet and outlet, a piston connected to the valve, a cylinder located above the valve and in which the piston works, an expansion chamber located above the cylinder and having an entrance at one side connected by a downwardly extending port with the inlet, ports leading from the top of the said expansion chamber and open- 1ng into the upper end ofthepiston c lin-. der, a valve seat formed in the roof 0 the' expansion chamber around the ports, a vertically disposed valve controlling the said ports and seated on the said seat within the expansion chamber, the said expansion chamber being substantially circular 1n form and extending around its valve and the said entrance thereto having its side walls diverging away from the said inlet port and its top and base sloping downwardly toward the said inlet port, the said base slo ing downwardly from the lowest point 0 the expansion chamber whereby to entirely drain the same of water of condensation, and means for controlling the expansion chamber valve and in turn controlled by pressure from the outlet.

2. A pressure regulator of the class described, comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet and a partition intermediate the said inlet and outlet, the partition having a valve seat, a spring-pressed regulating valve controlling the said valve seat, a' cyl inder in the upper "portion of the said casing and in' communication at its lower end with the said outlet, a piston in the said cylinder and connected with the regulating valve, a high pressure expansion chamber located above the said cylinder and having its bottom connected by a downwardly-extending port with the said inlet toallow fluid pressure to pass from the saidinlet into the said expansion chamber and to drain the said expansion chamber of water of condensation, the roof ofthe said expansion chamber being provided with a valve seat, the under side of which is below the roof of the said expansion chamber, a vertically disposed controlling valve controlling the said roof valve seat of the high pressure expansion chamber, ports connecting the said valve seat With the upper end of the said cylinder, a diaphragm chamber above the said high pressure expansion chamber and connected with the said outlet, a diaphragm controllin the said controlling valve, and a pressure evice bearing on the said diaphragm.

3. A pressure regulator of the class described, comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet and a partition intermediate the said inlet and outlet, the partition havin a valve seat, a spring-pressed regulating va ve'controlling the said valve seat, a cylinder in the upper portion of the said casing and communicating at its lower end with the said outlet, a piston in the said cylinder and connected with the regulating valve, a high pressure expansion chamber located above the said'cylmder and having its bottom connected by a downwardly-extending port with the said'inlet to allow fluid pressure to pass from the said inlet into the said expansion chamber and drain the said expansion chamber of water of condensation,

. the said expansion chamber being approximately circular in form and having a downwardly sloping entrance, the side .walls oi the entrance being diverging and merging with the side wall of the expansion chamber, the upper end of the port connected with the said lnlet having a plurality of branches sion chamber being provided with a valve opening into the contracted end of the said sloping entrance, the roof of the said expan- 1,17a,asa

chamber and connected with the said outlet, a diaphragm controlling the said controlling valve, and a pressure device bearing on the said dlaphragm.

v 4. A pressure regulator of the class described, comprising'a casing having an in let, an outlet and a partition intermediate the said inlet andoutlet, the partition having a valve seat, a spring-pressed regulating va ve controlling the said valve seat, a cylinder in the upper portion ofthe said casing and in communicatlon at its lower end with the said outlet, a piston in the said cylinder and connected with the regulating valve, a high pressure expansion chamber located above the said cyhnder and having its bottom connected by a downwardly-extending fluid pressure to pass from the said inlet into the said expansion chamber and drain the said expansion chamber of waterof condensation,

the roof of the saidexpansion chamber being provided with a valve seat, a vertically controlling the disposed controlling valve said roof valve seat of the high pressure chamber, a spring in 'the sai expansion chamber and pressing the said controlling valve to its seat, a support in the said expansion chamber and having a seat for the said springs to rest on, 'the said support let, an outlet and a forming a guide for the stem of the controla pointed end extending into the expansion chamber, the said pointed end engaging the bottom of the said support, ports connecting the said valve with the upper end of the said cylinder, a diaphragm chamber above the said high pressure expansion chamber and connectedwith the said outlet, a diaphragm controlling the said controlling valve, and a pressure device bearing on the said diaphragm.

5. A pressure regulator of the class de scribed, comprising a casing,-having an inartition intermediate the said inlet and out et, the partition havin a valve seat, a spring-pressed regulating va ve controlling the said valve seat, a cylinder in the upper portion of the said casing and in communication at its lower end with the said outlet, a piston reciprocating in the said cylinder, controlling means controlled by pressure from the said outlet to connect the said inlet with the upper end of the said cylinder, and an emergency feed connection connected directly withthe upper 'end of thesaid cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have signed. my

name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JULES P. METZGER. Witnesses:

Tnno. G..Hosrnn,

'Pnmar D. ROLLHAUS. 

